The Indonesian special aircraft landed at the Royal Australian Air Force`s RAAF Base Darwin at 1.35 pm local time following a four-hour flight from Jakarta`s Halim Perdanakusuma military airbase.
President Yudhoyono was greeted by Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard at the RAAF Base in Darwin, where a Hercules C-130 was granted to Indonesia by the Australian Government.
The President and the First Lady Ani Yudhoyono began their visit to Darwin by visiting the Critical Care and Response Center at Royal Darwin Hospital, which was jointly-built by both the countries for the victims of natural disasters.
Before departing for Darwin, Yudhoyono said Indonesia and Australia will continue to increase bilateral cooperation as both were members of G-20, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and East Asia Summit. "This bilateral cooperation is expected to be beneficial for both countries," he announced.
Julia Gillard will host a banquet for her Indonesian guest at the Northern Territory Parliament House in Darwin on Tuesday. In the morning, Yudhoyono and Gillard will attend an Indonesia-Australia annual meeting as part of Yudhoyono`s agenda.
During the visit, Indonesia and Australia will sign a memorandum of understanding regarding a grant of four Hercules C-130s by the Australian Government to Indonesia. Upon returning from Darwin to Jakarta, President Yudhoyono will stop briefly at Sumba Timur district, East Nusa Tenggara, for a working visit to observe the progress of the region.
During the visit, the head of the state was accompanied by First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, Economic Minister Hatta Radjasa, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, TNI Chief Admiral Agus Suhartono, and Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam.
The president's entourage also comprises of Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika, East Nusa Tenggara Governor Frans Lebu Raya, and West Papua Governor Abraham Ataruri.
(O001)
Editor: Ella Syafputri
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
